ESPN Latest Mock 15. Houston: Bostjan Nachbar, SF, 6-8, Benetton Treviso (Italy) The Rockets aren't afraid to take two foreign players in the first round. Their goals were a center and a small forward. The only other name that has been bandied about at this spot has been Tayshaun Prince. But Nachbar has been the consistent favorite. 16. Philadelphia: Qyntel Woods, 6-8, PF, Northeast Mississippi CC Woods has been the player of late who is dropping like a rock in deep water. He could go another spot or two if the Sixers' pick goes to the Warriors in the first round. Golden State has to decide if it wants this pick or a first-round pick in 2005. Woods is an athletic small forward who has been billed as a legit scorer, something the Sixers could still use. The more the more I look at it the more and more I think Nachbar won't be there and the Rockets will have to choose between Woods and prince. I know a lot of people would be upset if we selected prince. But I don't think it would be such a bad pick. He is not Morris clone like some people suggest. He is a gamer. He grew up in Compton a tough neighborhood in LA and decided right away that he needed to get away from there so he chose Kentucky. I know prince wasn't even in the first round for alot of the mocks... but that is misleading. He didn't have a great season. But he had a lot of great games. And almost all of the biggest games where he played his best. He played well against Jefferies and lead his team to victory. He played sensational in the Ncaa tournament and gave the terps as good a challenge as any other team. The biggest reason I think he didn't show up consistently because there was a lot of turmoil with the Wildcats team plus he was taking 20 hours trying to graduate on time. A task he completed. Also he has an unorthodox shot, he has these humongous hands which make it difficult for him to shoot with his fingertips making his shots look like a knuckleball. But the guy is as good a long range shooter as anyone and the guy is a gamer. He wants to take the big shot. A lot like Griffin. He can play D a lot of times being put on the opposing teams toughest player. He has decent handles some people think he can play the two. And while he isn't super fast he has a quick move to the basket. Plus don't forget about the his seven foot wingspan. I know a lot of people will be upset if we pick Prince but don't be surprised if it happens.
I love it when these guys drop for stupid reasons... If we could pick up Woods at #15, that would be awesome. Worst case, we could trade him... There's a reason Magic Johnson is dying to get him... even if he doesn't have any defense, and needs time to develop. At #15, we aren't going to get anyone to start at SF anyway. We want the best tradeable player we can grab. Good grief, I remember only weeks ago, he was projected top 3. If its between Nachbar and Woods, I'd take Woods. Now if Stoudamire is still there, I think I'd take Amare. It'd also be cool if Hilario drops due to fears about getting out of his contract. If for some reason he falls, I'd take him over anyone else.
Hmmm...well, the only way I don't see the Wizards taking Woods is if Wagner is available at #11, and I think he'll be gone before then. Jefferies and Woods worked out together for the Wizards, and they sounded much more impressed with Woods.
There is usually an indirect proportion as to how impressed a team is with a player vs. whom they really will draft.
As stated within my mock draft about Prince, "Like bamboo, he's skinny and strong. Bamboo shoots, too. Ming likes bamboo." Now how do you argue with that?
If that happens, we'll get to see how much the Rockets value BJ Johnson's(one of their scouts) opinion of Qyntel. According to B.J.: "He's already a lottery pick."
If we end up with Ming and Woods or Nachbar or Stoudamire, I would be on top of the world. In fact I will be right there in the MSG.
I just don't see him falling that far. The guy was a lock for Top 3 and was even being talked about as a Number One a few weeks ago. How does he fall out of the lotto? Unless GMs are really worried about the pot thing? My guess is still that MJ figures he can keep Woods under control, and the Wiz take him. (see mock in my sig)
If you mean "inverse relationship" I agree. Unless one of the top 2 or maybe 3 picks, I've always thought the more somebody hypes a player up, the less likely they are to draft the guy, or the less likely he's their first choice. Also, for you guys that are saying you want/don't want Woods, what are you basing it on? I've heard he's got incredible offensive skills and nothing on defense, but outside of that I haven't heard much. Did you guys get any info from any of the workouts to come to your conclusions? Hell, I still don't see how people can say they want Nachbar - have you seen him play, or is it just based off of articles saying he can shoot and is quick?
I guess those reports of 'wonderful talent, awesome scoring potential, plays no defense at all, has no clue about playing good team ball' are true. But if he were available @ 15, it would still be very hard for me to pass on him if I were the Rocks.
Word is that Qyntel is not a great jump shooter. We already have two slashers in the backcourt. Nachbar would be the perfect compliment. Woods may eventually become the better player, but sometimes you need guys compliment your strengths. Last year it seemed like there were times when we couldn't throw the ball into the ocean. Nachbar is a pure shooter and will kill defenses that try to double team on Francis.
I am not suggesting we do or don't do this, BUT if Woods drops that far would you.....draft Woods and trade him to LA for Horry? LA wants Woods, and they don't have many realistic tradable assets. Horry is one of them. I am sure this does not work cap wise, not sure who we throw in, (Rice and they give us their 1st rounder this year), I don't know. But, with that said, would you do it? LA apparently loves Woods and Woods is dropping. Interesting. It is amazing to me that some had Woods as the #4 player on the board and now he is dropping to #16??? Chris
If a tree falls in the woods do the Lakers get him... As much as like Horry it would be sacriligious to make that trade... I guss I hate the Lakers more than I like Horry.
Alot can change in the weeks heading up to the draft. Andy Katz, the author of the Mock that has Qyntel going 16th, also had Woods going in the lottery for the past month. Just now he is saying that Woods' value has dropped out of the lottery. BJ Johnson's asessment of Woods was on March 12th. I wouldn't say that Johnson was off in his prediction that Woods is a lottery pick. Nearly every Mock draft out there had Qyntel going in the top 13 picks. This new Mock by Katz's ESPN is the first one I've seen having him drop this low.
Just various articles/stats/etc. From Stats Good FT%...shows discipline. The same work at improving FTs would be helpful behind the line. Most 80%+ FT shooters have some jumpshot even if it is not out to the arc. Great ability at getting to line. Great rebounding stats. Great steal numbers..may not be division I, but they don't pass him the ball either. Efficient. High adj FG percentage, super high P/FGA From articles. Likes to play around basket via penetration, offensive boards. Guard like offensive skills without a 3 point shot (30%). Athletism weak defensively ----------------------------------\ My assessment from various information sources..no first hand knowledge. FT numbers stay same % wise. Will not get to the line as much as in college. For reference, Shaq is probably the only comparison for how often Q Woods is on the line and people try to foul Shaq. Not as good as Rice at getting to line, but will get there at least 33% more if not 50% more than Rice. Rebounding numbers should translate to atleast 6 boards a game, but I'm thinking between 7 and 8. Might not be as good a rebounder as Morris, but better than any other SF. Steals won't nearly be as good as in college, but should be better than any alternative at SF for rocks as far as this goes. Offensively. I see growing pains. Probably will have a 39 to 43 fg % first year which is better than Morris and Griffin, but he was a better scorer in college than both. I expect him to take easier/closer shots (ie more dunks lay ups) than Griffin and he'll be playing in the NBA more like he did in college than Griffin. The ability to get to the line should help offset the more dificult time of getting off good shots in the NBA. Defensively....I'm hoping the great wall can help out.
Nice. But don't hate the poster. It's Alanis Morisette's fault (remember "Isn't it Ironic") that a whole generation of kids will misunderstand the meaning of irony. Oh well. They can always lower the standards for standardized testing.
